Archive for November, 2009
How Mentoring Programs Establish Self-Confidence
Mentoring programs establish the self-confidence and the self-assurance of a mentee who uses it as a tool for personal and professional development. There are certainly many benefits you can expect from joining a mentoring program because you will learn from someone who has the necessary experience to coach you on what you have to do. Some of the benefits of mentoring include:
? Becoming a standout
? Leadership abilities
? Working smarter, not harder
These benefits may sound simple, but when you translate it in real life, you can definitely feel that mentoring is one of the best options to succeed in your career. Mentoring is actually a two-way relationship and both the mentor and the mentee will learn something from the mentoring program. Primarily though, mentoring programs are designed to enhance the capabilities of the mentee.
At the start of any mentoring programs, both the mentor and the mentee are encouraged to clarify their goals and expectations from the program. They need to create a well-designed plan and follow a specific course of action. There are a lot of cases wherein the mentoring program far exceeded the expectations of the mentee because the program provided the following as well:
I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.
? An insider’s realistic perspective on his career goals and progress
? Clearer understanding of his career plans
? Exposure to varied experiences and perspectives
? Access to powerful sources of information
? Access to resources within the industry
? Greater knowledge about yourself and your goals
? A wider network of contacts
? Identification of any lacking skill that is required for career advancement
? Establishment of a foundation for a lasting professional career
? Access to a support system during the critical stages of your career growth
But the mentor would not be able to do everything for you; you need to help yourself as well. You need to do this by listening to the mentor’s ideas and suggestions, try implementing these suggestions if you feel that these can help you in your career. It is also essential for you to listen to the feedback of others especially the opinion of the mentor during this critical time so that you can adjust to the situation accordingly. In addition, you should have set realistic expectations from what you hope to achieve from the mentoring program because it is difficult to have impossible goals and then expect the mentor to help you achieve these objectives.
You likewise need to have the willingness to learn and adapt to the different situations you might be facing at work. The mentor is simply the person you should count on for advice and suggestions about the path you should take. Mentoring should not be seen as the easy way out; rather, it should be seen as a tool that will help you grow further in your career and on your personal life.
And these objectives are only possible if you learn to believe in yourself and know that you are capable of doing great things in your life. Mentoring programs can help you reach this state and once you are at this point, it would be inevitable for you to enjoy the fruits of your success. As you can see, while the mentor will provide you with guidance during the mentoring program, your success is entirely up to you.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!
Payday Loans – Pros & Cons
Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Payday Loans? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Payday Loans.
Everything in this world has a good side and a bad side. Oftentimes, these things determine whether one idea or undertaking is worth the risk or not. This is also true with payday loans. The term ‘payday loan’ is derived from the word payday wherein you will repay the loan on the said time.
What is a payday loan? For those of you who don’t know what the loan is al about, this is an excellent chance to discover its good and the bad side. Basically, a payday loan is a short-term loan given to borrowers between payday periods to help finance urgent expenses or difficulties. The loans are sometimes called cash advances or paycheck advances and is often limited to $1500 only.
Payday loans have definitely received considerable controversy. This is where the ‘cons’ enter as critics claim that lenders target the helpless poor and the innocent young adults. These people, as the critics say, don’t understand the importance of money. They even call lenders as loan sharks because of the high interest charges which can reach as high as 250% depending on the credit score of the borrower and the loan amount.
People who belong in the middle class are even better off using cerdit cards instead of obtaining payday loans because the interest charges are about 25% only. So you see, the poor sector and the young adults pay a much higher interest on the loans.
If there are critics, then there are also proponents of payday loans. They want to impart to the people the ‘pros’ or the benefits that you can derive in applying for payday loans. Proponents claim that the short-term payday loans are much better than the long-term loans offered by national banks. The processing charges are much less as compared to the long term loan applications.
If your Payday Loans facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Payday Loans information slip by you.
Some supporters also claim that in the event of late credit card payments or bouncing checks wherein the borrower incurs expenses, the costs incurred by payday loan borrowers are still much less. The conventional interests are not that profitable and even New York’s Federal Bank Reserve claimed that the loans can support cash flow in between paydays.
Families can enjoy living a much better life with the aid of the payday loans especially when urgent need for cash is required. The mothly budget will not have to suffer because there is an alternative source of instant cash. Another good thing about the loans is that individuals with low credit scores can also avail since it is not included in their criteria. Their criteria for applying loans include the age, the job and salary, and a checking account.
Once you comply with these criteria, you can already avail of the loan. There is no need to fax documents and other important information because everything is done online. You just need to provide a few details about yourself and fill out the application form. After that, you can already submit the application and wait until the cash amount is transferred to your account. So you see, the convenience is all there and you can just repay the loan amount on your next payday.
If you think that the pros outweigh the cons, then you can take advantage of these payday loans. The decision is entirely yours. Besides, the payday loans are designed to meet urgent need for cash and it is not intended to be used for everyday consumption. When you need cash badly and you’re unable to borrow from relatives or friends, this is the best solution that you can get.
Still, if you can save a little amount every month to cover unexpected expenses, all the better.As a responsible adult, you should know how to handle all your expenses, even the urgent ones. If you have savings, then you will not borrow money. Just in case you borrow through payday loans, make sure that you pay on time so that you will not have problems in the future, especially that concerning your credit records.
And remember to borrow only when needed.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!
The Five Main Types of Fly Fishing Flies
Although there are hundreds of types of flies used for fly fishing, most of them fall into five specific categories, or types. These types are dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers and buck tails, and terrestrials. The main purpose of the fly is to imitate an insect that the fish wants to eat.
A dry fly imitates a natural insect that is floating on the top of the water. Fish are very sensitive to any motion of their water and how currents move the insects they want for food. In fly fishing, if a dry fly is moving even slightly against the current, the fish will have nothing to do with it. The fly may look like something the fish recognizes but it is not acting the same an insect would. The fish recognizes it as something foreign in the water and leaves it alone.
In fly fishing, a wet fly is imitating a drowned, or drowning, natural insect and is fished below the water surface. No one is sure if the wet fly is seen as a drowning adult insect or a nymph from the perspective of the fish. Most fly fishermen today seem to believe that it is seen as a nymph. Because of this less and less wet flies are being sold. Wet fly fishing is the oldest form of fly fishing. It dates back to descriptions of the early Macedonian people.
You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Fly Fishing. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.
A nymph is the stage between an egg and the adult in the life cycle of an insect. In fly fishing, flies that resemble nymphs are growing popularity. The nymph fly is just below the surface of the water. When a fish bulges the water without breaking the surface, he is nymphing. This means that the fish is eating the natural nymphs just as they are emerging from their shell. This is what a nymph fly imitates.
Streamers and buck tail flies do not imitate any part of the insect’s life cycle. These types of fly fishing flies are much larger and represent small bait fish such as sculpin minnows. The main difference between theses two types of flies is that streamers are tied with feathers, and bucktails are tied completely with hair. Fly fishing that uses these two types of flies generally requires more rod and line manipulation. The movements are supposed to duplicate the motions of the little fish.
Although most flies represent water insects, a terrestrial fly is made to imitate a land insect that has fallen into the water. The two most common terrestrials that are imitated for fly fishing are the ant and the grasshopper.
Besides these basic five categories of flies, there are many other kinds of flies that are used for fly fishing. Some of them are a combination of one or more of the basic categories and some do not fit into any group. The most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t matter how the fly looks to you, the fisherman. It matters how the fly looks to the fish.
Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Fly Fishing. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
Snoring by Nature Is?
There is over 300 anti snoring devices invented since the first innovative tennis-ball-in-a-sock which by the way primarily helps prevent patients from sleeping on their backs. Other devices however, initiate unpleasant stimuli everytime a person snores. However, it must be noted that snoring is not subjected to our voluntary faculties. If one device really does stop you from snoring, then it might be credited to the fact that you were kept awake all night?without one sweet dream.
It all lies in the abnormality of the air passage. Free flow of air is needed to facilitate regular breathing. With problem snoring, it is likely that any part of the area at the back of the mouth and the nose strike constantly. Thus, the vibration in breathing.
It may be that some people consider snoring as a non-serious condition but in fact, the opposite is true. People who suffer from snoring normally have disrupted sleep that deprives them of having normal and comfortable sleep. And when the condition gets aggravated, the snorer normally will have long-term health problems including obstructive sleep apnea. And besides, this actually causes patients embarrassment and oftentimes affects another person’s sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea, on the other hand, is the condition by which snoring is constantly interrupted with total obstruction of breathing. This occurs at an average of ten seconds long and may happen at around 7 times in an hour. Thus, the patient may suffer from 30 episodes up to 300 episodes in one night alone.
Such episodes will reduce the level of oxygen in the blood, which drives the heart to pump harder.
Immediate effects include a forced light sleep so that he may keep his muscles in tensed state. This will help facilitate a regular flow of air in the lungs. This then results to unrelaxed rest. Thus, throughout the day he will become sleepy which causes him not to function well. This then will contribute largely to the enlargement of the heart and raised blood pressure.
The best time to learn about Snoring is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Snoring experience while it’s still free.
There are various contributors on the severity of snoring. These include:
Mouth anatomy
Snoring usually concerns the tissues involved in breathing. There are a couple of reasons why the air passage is narrow, which is itself, a good contributor to problem snoring. This may be due to enlarged tonsils, elongated soft palate and thick soft palate, and abnormality in the tissues at the back of the throat. These can all cause obstruction in the air passage.
Alcohol consumption
Any factor that can help relax the muscles of the throat more are effective causes of snoring. Due to the fact that alcohol is a sedative substance, it acts upon the muscles in the throat as a relaxant. Thus, regular intake of alcohol during near bedtime can cause disruptive snoring.
Sleep apnea
More often than not, snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea. It is best that you are well diagnosed so that due treatment can be processed.
Nasal problems
It may also be that biological factors can intrude to the normal passage of air in your throat. The underlying part of the nose, termed to as the bridge is the nasal septum. When this partition is quite crooked or there is any nasal congestion due to this, snoring would occur.
As we have earlier mentioned, there are so many attempts to set off snoring. However, one of the most effective is the surgery in which permanent treatment is applied.
If you are a sufferer from snoring, it is best that you get early diagnosis. While it may not be a life-threatening condition, it is still very likely that your condition gets severe.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
Adult Dyslexia On Numbers And Codes
The following paragraphs summarize the work of Adult Dyslexia experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of Adult Dyslexia. Heed their advice to avoid any Adult Dyslexia surprises.
People with dyslexia can have problems on remembering numbers and codes. In the adult world, having this ability is important, since this is related in managing bank accounts and dealing with monetary issues.
Here are some techniques that most dyslexics use in order to cope up with their number problems.
Whole Number Method
Some people with dyslexia use the whole number method when they are trying to remember phone numbers. Here, you basically group the first three digits and consider it as a whole number. Then you divide the last four digits, into two groups, and consider them as two whole numbers.
For example, the phone number is 806-6757; this can be read as Eight hundred six, sixty seven, and fifty seven. By doing this method you are allowed to visualize the sounds of words, which make it harder for you to forget them.
Dates
Some dyslexics use the date method when remembering codes. For example you can use the year you were born as your door code number or pin number.
Pattern Method
Another method used in remembering numbers is through the use of patterns. By creating a pattern of numbers in the phone pad, it can be easier for you to remember the numbers. For example, ?1478? makes a pattern of a capital ?L? while ?25846? makes a cross.
Use Your Knuckles
So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Adult Dyslexia. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.
Most kids use this method to remember how many days are there in one month. Using this, even though you are not a kid is alright. In fact, a lot of dyslexic adults use this method, since you have your knuckles anywhere you go.
Comparing Numbers
Some dyslexics have problems with comparing numbers. Some do not have the ability to visually compare numbers. If you are having the same kind of problem, then you can try using your calculator to know that the numbers are different. You can do this by subtracting one number from the other. If you get a zero, then this means they are the same, if not, then they are different.
Money Matters
Some conditions of dyslexia may give you problems in counting money. Some people find this very embarrassing. To avoid counting out change, what is usually done by dyslexics is to be ready by simply having a larger bill than your estimated amount of purchase.
In this way you can accumulate a lot of change. You can then get rid of these by already counting out the exact amount of small purchases that you will be making in the near future. Putting the counted amount into a separate change purse then would make the whole process easier for you.
Dot Method
Some dyslexics that have problems in understanding number concepts and using this method is one way they help themselves. Here you visualize a specific pattern of dots for the numbers one to nine. Using a dice can be helpful too.
Drawing
Some use their ability to draw in remembering phone numbers. In this method, you perceive the numbers as parts of a whole picture or drawing. The picture is what is then stored in your mind. With just a little concentration on your part, remembering numbers won’t be a problem anymore.
These are just some of the ways how some adults with dyslexia have managed to deal with their condition. However, you should take note that each technique can vary from one case to another. That is why its effectiveness can differ too.
If you’ve picked some pointers about Adult Dyslexia that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
Globalization Through Outsourcing Trends
Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Outsourcing. When you start sharing the fascinating Outsourcing facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.
The relocation in managing the day-to-day carrying out of business activities or the enterprise’s function to a peripheral service provider is being utilized today. The client organization and the supplier of services drafts and executes a contractual agreement that stipulates the rules and describes the terms of provision and procurement. Nowadays, outsourcing trends have become more expansive encompassing more and more industries.
Offshore outsourcing is the transfer of the enterprise’s service module to a secondary management that is located elsewhere other than the country where the goods and services are actually availed or consumed. The principle behind the practice is for minimization of production cost with the global electronic internet network as its enabling medium.
Primarily, the reason for engaging this method is due to a significant difference in salary allocation. It is expected that the cost of service in the host country is much lesser in comparison to that of the origin. General criteria for the job that may be sent overseas are jobs accomplished through telework, jobs with high information content, jobs that can be repeated and easy to set-up, and work that could be transmitted through the internet.
However, this trend has been a source of controversy. Opposing factions have raised the threat it poses to the domestic job market of the developed country since fewer opportunities will be offered. Contrary to that, job opportunities in the host country will dramatically increase.
Cannibalization is yet another trend in outsourcing. It is characterized by the reclamation of the serviceable parts of the projects by which open production and failure-related requirements are executed with the use the existing components of the project. This practice ensures the efficacy and proficiency of the supportive facility.
How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.
In this case, the work done earlier which was proven to be unsuccessful is outsourced to someone who is basically home bound. The service provider may actually be situated in the same country as the organization in need of the output.
Growth in captives and organizations that are owned and operated by a parent firm but in a different country is also a way of outsourcing. Nationals of the parent firm who have transferred due to work or those who have been living in the place as expatriates compose workforce. A big part of the wage revenue basically goes to the country of origin since foreign citizens do not supply it.
Outsourced electronic commerce is yet another common trend wherein transactions for selling or buying a good or commodity is done over electronic systems. This has also gained popularity over the recent years. Since the development of the internet a significant increase in this area has been reported. The variety of business conducted through this process includes fund transfer, internet marketing, supply chain management, electronic data interchange, online transaction exchange, and several others.
The above-mentioned outsourcing trends have given the business sector a boost. Companies making use of these systems are generally more financially stable than those who do not. The face of business has been altered through globalization and de-regulation.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
Traveling Safely in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country that has had a comfortable democracy for quite some time. Even though her neighbors have been torn apart with political strife, Costa Rica has remained peaceful and with little or no political upheaval. It seems to have created a genuinely happy group of people. However, human nature being what it is, there is some amount of crime that does exist.
The usual warnings apply. Stay out of any red light districts there may be and always travel with groups in well-lit areas. Keep your money in a hidden pocket somewhere in your clothing but do not carry a wallet. It is advised that you keep a credit card or travelers checks. Both are insured and when you are on vacation if you are mugged you can get them replaced.
Don’t leave your drinks unattended and don’t make change or flash your cash. It’s not difficult just handle your transactions discreetly. Stifle the need to wear expensive jewelry it’s overdone in this environment anyway. It has been suggested that visitors keep photocopies of their return plane ticket and their passport. Keep an extra stash of cash in your hotel room just in case of an emergency.
Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Costa Rica, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.
If you drive your rented car out of a gas station, grocery store, your hotel, or just about anywhere and it ends up with a flat tire. Don’t let the inevitable Good Samaritan help you that comes right along as soon as you have broke down. In the past there have been tourists that allowed this nice guy that just happened along, to help them change the tire while he has you distracted his buddies sneak into the other side of the car and steal you belongings.
The roads are usually paved and easy to travel but occasionally you have to go down some rough dirt road. If you are unsure of the roads don’t drive them. As a matter of fact, it just isn’t good sense to rent a car. The cost of gas is terrible and you have to stress out about figuring out where you are going. It would be smart to set aside a bus/taxi fare when you plan your trip.
If someone spills food on you move quickly away from them as they try to help you. Wiping ketchup off of you is a way to grab you and pick your pockets. This is an old ploy that is used all too often in many ports of call, not just Costa Rica. Many people come to Costa Rica looking for photo opportunities. Shutterbugs just love their equipment and it is a big tragedy when their cameras get stolen. Get vacation or travelers insurance for your camera and equipment.
If you do get equipment stolen or your wallet stolen, call 911 and follow through with getting a police report. You will need a copy of the police report in order for your camera to be replaced. Chances are that you will never have to use any of this advice, but it never hurts to be safe.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
Possible Short-Term Benefits of Global Warming
Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Global Warming? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Global Warming.
It is certain that enough global warming would be harmful to human beings. If the temperatures were hot enough and the sea levels were high enough, it would spell an end to life as it is known at this time. Yet, there may be some short-term benefits of global warming.
Few people would argue and say that a warm climate is not preferable to a cold one. Not only are warm climates generally more pleasant, there are health benefits as well. People who suffer from conditions that are affected by the cold, such as rheumatoid arthritis, often move to warmer climates. A small amount of global warming would allow people to stay in their homes.
One scientist did an extensive study of statistics to find out the health benefits of warmer weather. He studied the numbers of deaths in different months of the year in places that get cold in the winter and warm in the summer. He determined that many more people die in the winter than in the summer. This would seem to support the benefits of global warming.
However, he also noted that the statistics in this part of the study were not entirely accurate. They were muddied by the fact that there are other considerations during season changes that would not occur in global warming. For example, days were shorter in winter, but they would not be shorter if more global warming occurred.
In 2004, it was observed by lobster fishermen that the warmer temperatures caused by global warming had affected their work. There seemed to be an abundance of Maine lobsters living and thriving in the warmer waters. They were happy for the increase, but expected it to be short-lived as the optimal temperature for lobsters probably has a very small range.
The more authentic information about Global Warming you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Global Warming expert. Read on for even more Global Warming facts that you can share.
It has been thought for quite some time that global warming would increase the amount of corn, wheat, barley, and other grains that could be grown. Not only the warmer weather and the longer growing seasons were anticipated to yield this result. Carbon dioxide exposure was expected to increase productivity along with global warming.
Studies have shown, though, that the carbon dioxide benefits are very minimal. Current projections are that farmers will only be able to keep up with demand for crops for a few more decades. Then, it is predicted that world-wide shortages will take hold.
Furthermore, agriculture in tropical zones is expected to decline rapidly as the temperature becomes too hot to support plant life. The temperate zones will be able to have better farming, and more of the world’s crops will be grown there.
Some economists point to global warming as a boon to international trade. They feel that the loss of ice sheets in the Arctic will open up routes that have not been accessible in the past. This will provide faster travel between Europe, America, and Asia, they say.
People give plenty of reasons to embrace global warming. They see only promise in the climate change of their planet. Perhaps they just do not want to feel required to do anything about global warming. Or, perhaps there is some room for hope.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
How Can Genes Contribute to and Cure Congestive Heart Failure?
It is common knowledge that heart failure follows another severe form of heart damage; however, until now scientists and doctors have had no way to identify those at risk. New research into genes and gene therapy have made them a potential weapon in the fight against heart failure.
Scientists have made several discoveries regarding the role of genes in the detection and treatment of heart failure. Several years ago it was discovered that a small percentage of patients who had suffered heart failure possessed a defect in the gene that allows the body to detect stress signals; in essence, the heart does not know that it is working to hard and is unable to adjust. This percentage may seem insignificant; however, the gene mutation was not present in any of the healthy patients examined. Researchers stress that this is a susceptibility factor, not a cause of congestive heart failure; however, it may be the breaking point when determining if a heart suffering from other disease will fail. Detection of this mutation may allow doctors to identify and treat patients at risk prior to their heart failing rather than after.
If you don’t have accurate details regarding Congestive Heart, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.
This defect is found in the ATP-sensitive potassium channels and is caused by a genetic mutation. The potassium channel regulates potassium and calcium levels in the body. While the heart must have calcium to function, an excess of calcium leads to damage. This is the reason calcium blockers are often given to patients with congestive heart failure. Fortunately, medications to open the potassium channel already exist.
In addition, a defect of the delta-sarcoglycan gene has been seen in hamsters with muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy. This gene is the cytoskeleton of muscle fibers, and successful transplant of a normal human delta-sarcoglycan gene has been shown to cause a tremendous improvement in these animals. This is noteworthy because current transplant attempts require open heart surgery. This type of gene transplant is carried on a virus, eliminating the need for surgery.
Scientists had been a bit concerned with using this method of gene therapy due to the need for a systemic effect. There was also some concern that the body’s natural immune system would eliminate the virus of its own accord prior to successful delivery of the gene; however, they believe they have found the best form of virus to successfully slip past the body’s defenses. When transplanting the delta-sarcoglycan gene researchers used a type eight adeno-associated virus, piggybacking the corrective gene onto it as it was inserted into the body. This allowed the gene to be carried to all areas of the body in animals with muscular dystrophy without being destroyed by the body’s own natural immunity.
Gene therapy is still highly experimental, and researchers are unsure yet of the role it will play in the conquest of heart failure; however, this represents a technology that was unavailable thirty years ago. Continuing advancements in technology and medicine’s knowledge of the body’s building blocks may one day unlock the mysteries to the cure of this deadly disease.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!
What Are the Causes of Bipolar Disorder?
Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Bipolar? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Bipolar.
Bipolar disorder is a difficult illness to manage and to treat. Many who have it may ask themselves, “Why me? What caused all this?” There are great disagreements as to the causes of bipolar disorder. They all tend to go back to the old nature/nurture controversy. In other words, does a thing happen to a person because of who he or she is, or because of the environment he or she grew up in?
The nature side of bipolar disorder causes has always been seen in family histories. This, however, can be misleading. Families often pass behaviors on from one generation to the next, regardless of whether family members are natural relatives or adopted ones.
The scientific concept of correlation without causation may account for shared histories of bipolar disorder in biologically unrelated siblings. This concept is easy to grasp. For example, a man could state that all summer, every time he got a sunburn he ate fish. So, did the sunburn cause the man to eat fish? No, but the act of fishing both caused the man’s skin to burn and allowed him to catch a fish, which he then ate. In a similar way, bipolar disorder can occur in families without anything in one family member’s bipolar disorder causing the bipolar disorder of another.
Also, for whatever reason, people with bipolar disorder are often drawn to each other. In this case it is unclear whether the families formed come together because of their shared genetically similar predisposition towards bipolar disorder, or whether some members of the families are genetically more prone to bipolar disorder but the illness of some other members of the family becomes exaggerated more than it would in another environment.
If your Bipolar facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Bipolar information slip by you.
Research into the genetic causes of bipolar disorder is often done using twin studies. It is assumed that twins will have environments that are as close as is possible. Identical twins are used to show the effects of genetics, since they will share the same genetic materials. Fraternal twins are used as a control group. While these twins share nearly identical environments with their twins, the fraternal twins have less genetic material in common.
It has been shown through these twin studies, and other studies where identical twins are compared to adopted siblings, that there does seem to be a genetic basis for bipolar disorder. Only one percent of the population has bipolar disorder. Fraternal twins, who share some genetic information, are 20 percent more likely to have the disease if one has it. The percentage for identical twins is even higher, at around 60 to 80 percent chance of one having it if the other does.
Environmental causes of bipolar disorder are more difficult to assess. Bipolar disorder has been proven to have a chemical basis in the brain, but the chemical reactions can be caused by any number of factors. A history of losses early in life can be a contributing factor, as can any major source of stress. Physical illnesses such as cancer and others can lead to a depressive state, which is then often followed by mania.
Neither genetics nor environment can fully explain the causes of bipolar disorder. Research is constantly being undertaken in both areas. In the meantime, the nature/nurture controversy is just beginning to heat up.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this excellent site: Product Profits Club (click to claim your FREE membership)